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Chad said on Thursday its forces had killed 117 Boko Haram insurgents during a two-week military campaign aimed at clearing islands on Lake Chad used by the militants as hideouts and bases to launch attacks. Chad has deployed thousands of soldiers alongside troops from neighbours Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger to tackle the militant group whose six-year insurgency has killed thousands. “We killed 117 Boko Haram fighters during the two-week operation. We lost two men and several wounded,” Colonel Azem Bermandoa, spokesman for the Chadian army, said. “We destroyed their boats and seized various weapons during the operation,” he said. Boko Haram, which calls itself the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) since pledging allegiance to the militant group that controls large areas of Syria and Iraq, has stepped up attacks in countries around the lake in recent months in response to a regional offensive. Last weekend, suspected militants from the group raided several remote localiti

Chad said on Thursday its forces had killed 117 Boko Haram insurgents during a two-week military campaign aimed at clearing islands on Lake Chad used by the militants as hideouts and bases to launch attacks. Chad has deployed thousands of soldiers alongside troops from neighbours Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger to tackle the militant group whose six-year insurgency has killed thousands. “We killed 117 Boko Haram fighters during the two-week operation. We lost two men and several wounded,” Colonel Azem Bermandoa, spokesman for the Chadian army, said. “We destroyed their boats and seized various weapons during the operation,” he said. Boko Haram, which calls itself the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) since pledging allegiance to the militant group that controls large areas of Syria and Iraq, has stepped up attacks in countries around the lake in recent months in response to a regional offensive. Last weekend, suspected militants from the group raided several remote localiti

The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday in Abuja declared that the party has no preferred candidate for the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi. APC Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, disclosed this during the presentation of forms to one of the governorship aspirants, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. “APC stands for change and the party has no preferred candidate and it will prepare a level playing ground for every aspirant,” he said. Izunaso urged the aspirant to give an undertaking that he will abide and play by the rule of the game and supportany aspirant that emerges as the party’s candidate. Izunaso urged the aspirant and his supporters to conduct themselves in an orderly manner no matter the outcome of the party primaries. In his response, Bello said he was on a historic rescue mission to salvage the “Confluence State from the grip of a few cabal who have underdeveloped the state. “T

Looking at the events unfolding in the State of Osun, “Ipinle Omoluwabi,” especially in the past few months and concerning the payment of salaries for civil servants in all cadres and pensioners in the state, is enough for me to make some clarification. Many headlines, articles, commentaries had taken over national dailies, magazines, the electronic media as well as the new media – Facebook, Twitter amongst others – on a daily basis. While a lot of commentators saw the event in the State of Osun as a national phenomenon which wasn’t peculiar to the state alone, but brought about by the maladministration of the Jonathan government, others, especially the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, and its allies spread across the nation, saw it as an avenue to rubbish the good work done in the past five years by the indefatigable leader and people’s Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola. The projects done by Ogbeni are monumental in the State of Osun and are today used as models by all a

The Chief Commissioner of Scout in Nigeria, Chief Soga Sofolahan has described Nigeria participation at this year World Scout Jamboree currently going on in Yamaguchi Kirara, Japan as historical and part of the change process that will bring about a desired impact on the youth development sector in Nigeria. Sofolahan, who led 39 others to the 23rd world event posited that the quadrennial event is a unique opportunity for scouts to be a global citizen and experience scouting as a worldwide movement for youth. This was contained in a statement forwarded to our correspondent Thursday afternoon in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital. One hundred and fifty countries across the world with 34,000 scouts are participating in the event in far away Japan. Addressing the opening ceremony, the Chairperson, World Scout Committee, Joao Armando G. noted that scouting is an educational movement that engages young people from all over the world to promote unity, respect, friendship, understanding and

FILE PHOTO: A Naval personnel takes a pose with some of the rescued women and children Nigerian soldiers rescued 71 people, almost all girls and women, in firefights that killed many Boko Haram militants in villages near the northeastern city of Maiduguri, the military said Thursday. Some captives told The Associated Press they were in the clutches of the Islamic extremists for as long as a year. “I was waiting for death … they often threatened to kill us,” said Yagana Kyari, a woman in her 20s who said she had been kidnapped from her village of Kawuri and taken to a militant camp in Walimberi, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southeast of Maiduguri, the biggest city in the northeast and the birthplace of Boko Haram. Kyari said they often went hungry because the extremists never provided enough food. “Our gallants troops have rescued a total number of 59 civilians in two camps of the terrorist group,” army spokesman Col. I.T. Gusau said. “Many of the terrorists were killed in the co

The Nigerian Air Force has announced on Wednesday that it has succeeded in blocking routes through which petroleum products and other materials are supplied to the Boko Haram insurgents. Air Commodore Dele Alonge, Director Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, said in a statement that the feat was achieved through patrols along the Nigeria-Cameroon borders which, according to him have greatly strained the supply efforts of the terrorists. “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) through its intensified and persistent efforts in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) has intercepted over 4,000 drums and jerry cans of petroleum products and other smuggled items. “The items, suspected to be supplies meant for BHT, were confiscated from the smugglers in Pepe, Dashin-Hausa, Belel Bilachi, and Konkul villages located along the Nigeria-Cameroon Borders on Tuesday, 28 July 2015. “The NAF was able to achieve the recent feat through its air patrol activities, covering bot

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has commended the peaceful resolution of the House of Representatives leadership crisis, which until now, had bogged down the activities of the House. In a statement released by his Media Office in Abuja on Wednesday, 29 July, the former Vice President recalled that the amicable outcome of the tension was in line with his earlier position that compromise and accommodation were necessary in ending the deadlock. According to the former Vice President, the opposing sides have demonstrated maturity, wisdom and sense of patriotism by finally arriving at a workable compromise. He said that in any compromise, you win some and lose some of your demands. He explained that he was constantly disturbed by how the crisis was adversely affecting the change agenda of the APC administration. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the fatherly role he played in the resolution of the National Assembly crisis. Atiku said it was this concern that led to his p

Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluranti Adebule (3rd right) receiving some life Jackets from the Deputy Managing Director, Total Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited, Mr. Charles Ngoka (2nd left) during the Official handing over of 2,400 Life Jackets donated by Total Nigeria PLC. to the Lagos State Government at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. With them are: Managing Director, Lagos State Waterways Authority ( LASWA ), Mr. Olayinka Marinho (right), Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mrs. Adebisi Ariyo (2nd right), Supervisory Community Development National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Mrs. Helen Nkwo (3rd left) and Business Development Manager, Emo Exploration & Production Limited, Mr. Dennis Otsemobior (left) Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has received 2,400 life jackets donation from Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited to be distributed to riverine areas in order to curb ince

The newly appointed Senate minority leader and former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio, Tuesday suffered a setback in his bid to retain his seat after the Akwa Ibom State National Assembly election tribunal ruled in favour of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Inibehe Okori, on two preliminary objections brought by Mr. Akpabio, reports Premium Times. The three-person panel of judges, led by Goddy Anunihi, sitting at the Customary Court of Appeal at Dutsen Alhaji, Abuja, ruled against Mr. Akpabio on his submission that there was no need entertaining the petition from Mr. Okori because he was not even the candidate of the APC in the March 28 National Assembly election. Mr. Anunihi said it was premature to decide at this stage of the trial the preliminary objection raised by Mr. Akpabio. “The issue of the petitioner not having the locus standi would be considered as the trial progresses,” he said. The panel also maintained that Mr. Akpabio’s claim of Appeal C

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says Port Harcourt and Warri refineries have commenced preliminary production of petroleum products after successful test-runs. In a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja on Wednesday the refineries will produce 335, 000 barrels daily. The statement explained that this followed successful re-streaming after a nine-month phased rehabilitation by in-house engineers and technicians. It stated that PHRC was ramping up its operation to about 60 per cent of its 210,000 barrels per day name plate capacity. According to the statement, WRPC production is projected to hit 80 per cent of its installed 125,000 bpd capacity. It stated that the PHRC was projected to boost the nation’s local refining capacity with a product yield of five million litres of petrol per day. It added that Warri Refinery would contribute 3.5 million litres of petrol to local refining capacity. The st

A visually-impaired man, Sule Akinyemi and a woman, Olajumoke Awosika, were on Wednesday charged with defrauding an accommodation seeker of N550, 000 at a Surulere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. The accused are Akinyemi, 62, and Awosika, 51 and are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, use of residence for obtaining by false pretence and obtaining money under false pretences. The duo pleaded not guilty. But the prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede told the court that the accused with others still at large committed the offences at No.1, Dipo Olubi St., Surulere -Aguda in Lagos. He said the accused collected N550, 000 on the pretext of letting a mini-flat to the complainant as the owner of the property. “Akinyemi pretended to be the owner of a mini-flat and collected the sum of N550, 000 from the complainant, Mr Ayodele Ayedun, with a promise to rent out the mini-flat to him. “Awosika brought Ayedun to the blind man to make payment, and he was caught while making a transactio

The Lagos State Government has vowed to prosecute a 70-year old woman for applying pepper in a 12-year old boy’s penis for alleged stealing of money. The government also vowed to prosecute another woman who engaged in begging for alms the two children she brought from the village to assist her in trading. The children were brought to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, after they have been rescued in Badagry, Ajamgbadi and Maza-Maza areas of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria by government officials and the police on Tuesday. Permanent Secretary, WAPA, Omobolanle Ogunmola said the ministry got a text message that a 12-year old child (name withheld) was being abused by a woman, who is around 70 years of age for alleged stealing by applying pepper in his private part and beating him severely with marks on his body. “Our team went to Badagry to rescue the boy who attends Ansarudeen Secondary School. From the information gotten from the school, the accused are old. The w

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has promised to pay the backlog of salaries owed civil servants. This promise was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo on Wednesday. The statement said Aregbesola made the promise when Ijesa Society, a social group, visited him. Aregbesola, according to the statement, expresses his displeasure over the delay in payment of workers’ salaries. The statement said every government initiative in the state represented the fulfillment of campaign promises made to the people. “The visit of the group comes at a time when some people are being sponsored to rubbish my achievements,” Aregbesola is quoted as saying in the statement. President of the group, Chief Tunde Aluko, commended Aregbesola for rapid development of the state. Aluko expressed belief that the financial challenge confronting the state will soon be over.

A resident of Gadun Albasa quarters in Kano, Musa Lalaji, 39, has been electrocuted by high tension wire at Kano Zoological Garden Shopping Complex. Alhaji Balarabe Kabara the state Director of Fire Service, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Kano in an interview with NAN. He said the incident happened on Monday after the deceased climbed the roof of one of the shops at the complex to carry out some functions and accidentally touched the wire. He said that the remains of the victim had been deposited at the mortuary of Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano. Kabara advised the management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company to either relocate the high tension wire or increase its height to prevent such accidental contact.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday interrogated Mrs Toyin Saraki, wife of the Senate President for about six hours over alleged corruption. Saraki was invited by the Commission for questioning over alleged shady contracts during her husband’s tenure as governor of Kwara state between 2003 and 2011. The invitation was in relation to alleged contracts executed by companies said to be linked to her while her husband was governor. Mr Wilson Uwujaren, the spokesman of the EFCC confirmed the interrogation of the former Kwara first lady at the Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja. “Mrs Saraki was in our office for questioning following an earlier invitation sent to her over allegation of corruption. I cannot speak further on the issue because I am currently not in the office and don’t have further details on the questioning.’' The former first lady in a statement issued by her NGO, Well Being Foundation, after her interrogation, pledged to support and c

The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele on Tuesday said the Federal Government spent 2.41 billion dollars on rice importation between January 2012 and May 2015. Emefiele made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting with officials of Paddy Rice Producing states and Rice Value chain investors in Abuja. He said the bank’s decision to ban foreign exchange for importation of rice; fish and other items would not be reversed. According to him, the apex bank has no plans to reverse the ban, adding that the reason for inclusion of rice in the exclusion list was not far-fetched. He said, “ Figures available with the CBN show that from the period January 2012 to May 2015, the country had spent over 2.41bn dollars on importation of this commodity. “Unfortunately, this trend has resulted in huge unsold stock of paddy rice cultivated by our farmers and low operating capacities of many integrated rice mills in Nigeria.” Emefiele said the CBN in collaboration with the Min

The Nigerian Army said the sporadic shooting heard around Damaturu metroplolis on Tuesday was due to an action of one of its soldiers. The explanation came in a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col Sani Usman. “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public and clarify that the sporadic firing heard in Damaturu this evening was a gross act of indiscipline on the part of a soldier who has already been arrested,” Usman said. He, therefore, appealed to public, especially those residing in Damaturu, to remain calm and go about their normal business.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised the Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to follow due process in the fight against corruption. The party made the call in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday in Abuja. It said that it was on the same page with the Federal Government in the fight against corruption but cautioned that due process must be followed. It said that the advice was necessary to ensure that the probe was not used as guise to victimise innocent citizens and curtail the freedom of Nigerians. The PDP stressed that it was not against the decision of the present administration to probe some past officials of government because they were PDP members. “The PDP supports the decision of the Federal Government to fight corruption in our country. “Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and no citizen, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliation, should be denied access to due process

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has stressed the importance of the professional elite in the current fight against corruption in the country, even as he expressed the readiness of the federal government to work on judicial and justice sector reforms. Prof. Osinbajo who met with leaders of both the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) and those of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in his office today noted that some of the reforms being envisaged will require legislation. Delegations of both professional groups were led by their presidents: Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN, of the NBA, and Otunba Samuel Olufemi Deru, of ICAN. Addressing the NBA delegation, Vice President Osinbajo, himself a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, stated that reforms are imperative in the justice sector, warning that “if we are not careful we may not have a profession. There is no question at all that we need reforms. We have to do it.” The VP pointed to some of the worrying insta

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Brigadier-General P.T. Boroh (rtd.) as the Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants. Brig. Boroh, whose appointment takes immediate effect, is to take over the responsibilities of the former Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Niger Delta who also doubled as Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, a statement by Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesperson said. The appointment of a new Coordinator for the Amnesty Programme is expected to lead to the speedy resolution of recent hitches in its implementation such as the non-payment of outstanding allowances to ex-militants.

Three governors of Nigeria’s main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will join President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday as he leaves Nigeria to begin a two-day visit to Cameroon to build a more effective regional coalition against Boko Haram. The governors are Ben Ayade of Cross River, Mr Darius Ishaku of Taraba and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom. They will be joined by three of their All Progressives Congress counterpart: Kashim Shettima of Borno, Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa and Samuel Ortom of Benue. Also included in President Buhari’s entourage are the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency. During the two- day visit, President Buhari will hold talks in Yaounde with President Paul Biya and senior Cameroonian Government officials. The talks between President Buhari and his Cameroonian counterpart are expected to focus on the full activation and deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force again

The Nigerian Army said on Tuesday that it had rescued 30 persons forcefully abducted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists as a follow up to its operations in Dikwa, headquarters of Dikwa local government area, Borno. The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the army had last week librated the town from the terrorists after a successful operation. Col. Tukur Gusau, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, stated this in a statement in Maiduguri. “As a result of the ongoing operation under the aegies of Operation Lafiya Dole to clear Dikwa and its environs from Boko Haram terrorists, the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday rescued 30 women and children from the hands of the terrorists in Kwayabe and Wufe wards of Dikwa LGA,” Gusau said. He said that the rescued persons included 21 children and seven women. “The rescued persons include 21 children, a six-day-old infant and seven women. “Three of the women are nursing mothers,” Gusau said. He said that the rescued persons als

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade has passed on. He died on Tuesday evening at the age of 85. The monarch, who was installed almost 35 years ago, died in St. Mary Hospital in London, where he was flown about five days ago. Sources in Osun State said the Oba was flown abroad in an unconscious state last week as his condition was said to be critical. He died around 5pm on Tuesday evening, PM News gathered. The Osun State Government is yet to issue a statement as at the time of filing this report. Sijuwade was born on 1 January, 1930 to a great royal family in the Ogboru house, Ilare, Ile-Ife. The last Ooni of Ife that the Ogboru ruling house presented (before the incumbent) reigned in Ife for many years as Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I. Early in life, Sijuwade was conscious of his royal birth, and his carriage, even in school, was of one who was destined to wear the crown. Once, at Abeokuta Grammar school, the Reverend Ransome Kuti wanted to flog the young Sijuwade for some mi

Against the backdrop of last week’s dissolution of boards and agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress, APC in the south south has warned the Managing Director of NDDC, Dan Abia to stop work and desist from continuously occupying the said office as the MD. National Vice Chairman, South South of APC, Prince Hilliard Eta in a statement issued in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Sunday, said the warning was on the heels of report that Mr. Abia has continued to occupy the office of the Commission’s MD and has made Nigerians believe that his position was not affected by the recent dissolution of Boards and Agencies by the President. Eta who also urged Abia to read all relevant statutes establishing the commission and take precaution also warned that the ousted MD risked severe sanctions should he continue in office after the dissolution. “Abia should know that the dissolution of the Board of NDDC also affects his position as Managing Director being a member of the

As part of the continued efforts of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to rid every part of Lagos State, western Nigeria, of criminals, especially those who hide in the dark to perpetuate heinous crimes in the state, 16 suspects were arrested around Ijora area of the state last weekend. The suspects were arrested at different hideouts around Ijora and are suspected to have in the past been working in cahoots with armed robbers. The raid on the Ijora hideouts, is a continuation of the onslaught against criminals in all parts of the state by the state government in its bid to create a secure environment for prospective investors and to secure life and properties of residents. The arrested suspects include: Uguru Michael, Nwibo Solomon, Adamu Muhammed, Lawal Ibrahim, Dairu Muhammed, Igboke Ndoka, and Gambo Garuba. Others are Orife Phillips, Wasiu Bojuola, Azeez Adeboye, Saeed Ojuola, Abdullai Usman, Okudete Nwaokwu, Ezekiel Nwayim, Chibozie Nworu and Nwegone Mathew. The Commander of the

There has been so much talk about how much was spent on advertising before the last general election in Nigeria but no one could say for sure how much was spent. But a report by Compliance and Content Monitoring Ltd (CCM) reveals that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Party (APC) spent a combined N3.23 billion on political campaign advertisements for this year’s general elections, according to a report at the weekend. According to the report PDP spent for about N2.5 billion (77 per cent) and APC spent N728 million (23 per cent). CCM said the media advertisements were placed on radio, television, press and billboards for the PDP and the APC presidential campaigns between December 2014 and March. The report was unveiled after a thorough analysis of over 260 broadcast media (radio and television), 48 print (newspapers and magazines) media and over 1,000 outdoor billboards across the country. The firm focused on the two main parties, taking into cognisance th

Prof. Muritala Akinola Salau, INEC National Commissioner, representing South West, has died at 67. Salau, a former Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso, died at Turkish Hospital in Abuja after a brief illness on Saturday. He was buried according to Islamic rites at the Muslim Cemetery, Moniya, Ibadan, on Sunday evening. His corpse arrived at the Ibadan airport at 4.15 p.m. where the Janazah (funeral) prayers took place. The prayer was witnessed by his immediate family members, INEC officials, members of the academic community, Islamic clerics, Muslim groups and other sympathisers. The corpse was later led to the cemetery in a long convoy where he was buried amidst prayers. An in-law to the deceased, Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, who is also the Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo state, described his death as painful, as he was always concerned about people’s welfare. Sanni said the Muslim community would miss him greatly because of his exemplary le

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday congratulated Mr Abdulwaheed Odusile of the Nation Newspapers on his election as the new President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ). This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina. According to Buhari, with Odusile’s worthy credentials, long experience and antecedents as a highly respected and reputable professional, the NUJ boss can be expected to discharge his new responsibility of leading the union to greater heights of accomplishment with distinction. The President assured Odusile and the newly elected executive officers of the NUJ of the fullest support and cooperation of the Federal Government. He, therefore, enjoined them to reposition and revitalise the journalism profession in Nigeria for present and future challenges, including the revolutionary impact of new technologies on communications and information dissemination. Buhari further assured the n

On Saturday, 25 July, the beautiful Grand Ball Room of Oriental Hotel, Lagos witnessed an unusual convergence of the most fashionable personalities in Nigeria to experience the glitz and glamour of the grand finale of Season Two of Fayrouz L’Original Expression Show. During the night, Team Meddlelane emerged winners of the 2015 edition competition and walked home with the grand prize of N4 million. According to the L’Original jury consisting of ace photographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, make up expert, Rhema Akabuogu of House of Tara and creative fashion designers, Mai Atafo and Kunbi Oyelese, the choice of Team Meddlelane as winners of the competition was in recognition of their display of originality, creativity and confidence as displayed in the “Enchanted” theme, which was evident in their creation. “Success in the fashion world is based on how creative you can be and this is the yardstick with which we have been judging the competition from inception. Not just that, the confidence in

Following the press statement by the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that its petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) led to the invitation of wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, the national headquarters has directed the state chapter to disclaim the statement. A highly ranked member of the party, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the national headquarters of the party called immediately the story was published by major newspapers on their websites. In a statement issued by Kwara state publicity secretary, Rex Olawoye, the party was quoted as revealing how the petition it submitted early 2015 to the EFCC detailing how certain individuals in higher places during the tenure of Saraki as Kwara State governor milked the state dry was instrumental to the invitation of the former first lady of the state. According to the petition, Mrs Saraki was fingered alongside one Mr. Ope Saraki, former special advise

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a party cannot provide any worthwhile opposition to the APC-led Federal Government if its spokesman continues to issue convoluted and fustian statements just so that he can be in the news. “Today’s statement is the most tortuous yet by the PDP and, honestly, sounds more like a compendium of beer parlour gossips and side talks than a serious criticism of a sitting government,” the APC said in a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. “To be in opposition does not mean you have to constitute yourself to a nuisance by rushing to the press with all sorts of hot air statements. It is the quality, rather than the frequency, of your interventions that makes you relevant as an opposition in a democracy,” the party said. It said that in the light of the above, the APC will not dignify the latest in a series of confused statements by the PDP with any respons

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Authorities have ordered the closure of mosques and Islamic schools following a series of suicide bombing attacks in northern Cameroon that have left at least 60 people dead, the region’s governor said Sunday. Child beggars are also being ordered off the streets because all the suicide bombers so far have been children, including the 13-year-old female who detonated explosives in an attack Saturday evening. While there have been no claims of responsibility, authorities have blamed the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, which has pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State group and abducted hundreds of girls and young women. The group’s leader has vowed to attack Cameroon because the Central African nation has aided neighboring Nigeria in its fight to defeat the extremists. In the latest attack inside Cameroon, at least 20 people were killed and another 85 wounded Saturday evening in the northern town of Maroua. The suicide bombing came just days after ano

The University of Port Harcourt has been ranked the sixth in Africa and the first in Nigeria by Times Higher Education (THE), a United Kingdom-based authoritative source for information about higher education. Placed behind four South African universities and one Ugandan university, UniPort made the cut following the number of papers presented over a period of time. In this chart by world’s most trusted rankings provider, THE, it reveals the first glimpse of future Africa University Rankings. “The university rankings provider has revealed the top 15 universities in the region, based solely on their scores for research influence – in other words, how much African universities’ research papers are referred to and cited by other academics across the globe,” THE said in a statement. The research institute noted that: “To be included in this future-gazing table, an institution must have published a minimum of 500 research papers in the five year period assessed with at least 50 papers p